Mike Gansey is already changing the way 76ers fans should read the rumor mill.
Philadelphia’s President of Basketball Operations has spent the early part of his first offseason in the job putting together what the team views as an extremely productive summer, and that alone has bought him some breathing room. For now, there’s no real pressure to force a move, and any chatter about changes to the roster figures to ramp up later, not sooner. But Gansey’s latest comments offered a clear reminder: silence doesn’t mean inactivity.
Speaking Wednesday on 97.5 The Fanatic, Gansey looked back on the Sixers’ early-July trade with the Boston Celtics for Jaylen Brown, a move that caught plenty of people off guard because Philadelphia had not been tied to Brown in the buildup. The deal landed with the kind of surprise that often makes a front office look especially sharp once the dust settles.
"I kinda like doing my business in silence," Gansey said. "During the whole time, every team but Philly was in the mix with Jaylen it seemed like through the media. We were lucky enough to do a deal; now he is a 76er, and we are very excited to have him"
That approach is hardly unfamiliar in Philadelphia. Former Sixers President of Basketball Ops Daryl Morey has voiced a similar preference before, saying he likes making moves for players who are not already being forecast to end up with the team. Of course, when the Sixers have chased major names in the past, such as James Harden, their interest has been obvious well before the finish line.
Still, Gansey’s first big swing has already set the tone. The Brown trade came out of nowhere, and it was his first blockbuster move in the role. Even in the LeBron James situation, Philadelphia was never the clear favorite, despite being connected to him for weeks before his decision became official.
The message for fans is pretty straightforward: don’t assume the loudest rumors are the most meaningful ones. Under Gansey, the Sixers appear determined to keep their work quiet until the deal is done.
In Other News...
Joel Embiid Update Gives 76ers Fans Real Reason For Hope
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Nurses update matters because the Sixers do not need a reminder of how different the team looks when Embiid is healthy and moving well. For now, the early read on the offseason is encouraging, and that alone gives the organization some badly needed optimism heading toward the new season. The real test, of course, will come once the games start and the grind begins to look a lot more like the one that has challenged Embiid in recent years. [Read more 🡒]
Grant Williams Just Eased A Big 76ers Fear About Jaylen Brown
Grant Williams helped calm one of the lingering concerns around Jaylen Brown this week, offering a firsthand view of what Brown and Jayson Tatum were like during their time together in Boston. Williams, who shared the Celtics locker room with both players from 2019 to 2023 before he was traded to the Mavericks, said their relationship was respectful and positive on and off the court, a detail that matters because Brown has long been viewed through the lens of how he might fit with Philadelphia if the 76ers ever circle back.
For the Sixers, the bigger issue has never just been Browns talent. Its whether the personality and basketball fit would hold up in a new setting, especially with the rumors that have followed him because of his ties to Tatum and the Celtics recent years of title-chasing. Williams comments do not answer every question about a potential move, but they do take some of the edge off the concern that Browns dynamic with a star teammate would be a problem in Philadelphia. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Brown Just Made Sixers-Celtics Feel Even More Personal
Jaylen Browns arrival in Philadelphia already gave the Sixers-Celtics rivalry a sharper edge, and his introductory press conference only added to the intrigue. Brown spoke respectfully about Jayson Tatum, the teammate with whom he won a championship in Boston, while making clear the two have not communicated since the trade that sent him to the 76ers.
For a team trying to reset itself around a star-studded starting lineup, Brown brings both production and baggage in the best possible way. He comes off a season in which he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists, and now his move to Philadelphia gives the Sixers another marquee name as they chase a major turnaround next season. [Read more 🡒]